All user reviews for the Focal CMS 65

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
After listening to several speakers store on mix that I knew well, in the same price range, I thought it was the most accurate.

For what purpose?
I homestudiste, I record and I mix a bit of everything from pop, electro, R'n'B and after use these speakers relates corresponds well they do their taff

SOUNDS

The frequency curve is sufficiently neutral? yes
The stereo image is good? very good
The sound is clear and precise on the spectrum? yes
The dynamics are respected? yes

OVERALL OPINION

It's been a little over a year that I use and I am completely satisfied, in the same price game I would do this choice without hesitation.

Obviously, it's still monitoring home studio, but you can really do a good job with it, before I had Alesis MKII active and it is I took a slap in terms of definition, clarity, ...

I chose them in the cabin listening to Michenaud.
Initially I went on the Adam or Dynaudio (which I could appreciate the qualities in the studio) and then listen to these speakers proved to be the most "balanced" just when I listened to music styles very different, Cecilia Bartoli Eminem or Metallica.

They are made in France Furthermore, and in particular robust and durable materials for magnetic noise (large aluminum block).

I use them in a home studio directly behind the sound card (that I must change because suddenly I hear its limits).

I put 8 because I would have preferred more digital inputs.

SOUNDS

The frequency curve is not flattering for all mediums are warm enough to not have the feel of a monitor "cold" where the guitars are loud and the bass is well made, even dubstep or techno we feel they grow.

The dynamic is good.

The stereo image is correct but I do not have an acoustically treated room and although it is thirty m2 this is not necessarily the right place to assess this point. In fact I did not possibly enough apart so that it is good but I have space constraints.

OVERALL OPINION

I use them for 8 months to replace BEHRINGER B2031A with which there is no comparison.

What I like most is the sound, the speaker size is probably the first diameter with which we can do without subwoofer. For years I looked for a quality worthy of the m series of Dynaudio but adapted to the home studio. I found something that is not nearly as good.

I tried a dozen pregnant upstream, smaller jbl's from Dynaudio (with BM12A they are almost equal playing elsewhere) on various samples.

What I like least is the lack of digital input.

With experience I will not change any of the model, this is probably the speakers who will follow me for long.

The value for money is excellent considering the audio quality as the first criterion.

I chose these speakers after going in a listening room (the universe) where full full models were in comparative listening.
Initially, I wanted to buy another brand (I do not remember already a chouilla cheaper. But when I put Pink Floyd Gorillaz, and another person with me has more techno songs, the comparison convinced me (also elsewhere!).
Personally, I mix rock, pop, or electronica with, and it is a joy.

SOUNDS

I found these speakers very accurate and helped me rediscover my mixes. And especially to discover the weaknesses of the mix! Formidable!
Since using them, I work faster and the result is more credible than all other audio systems.
Unclear whether they have "holes" or "bumps" in the frequencies. Probably in the ultra-low, the additional enclosure of at Focal can win.
Otherwise, my technique is "simple": I mix with these speakers, respecting the "fair use" (distance, correct local, etc ...). If I like the mix and sounds good on these speakers (balanced, accurate), then, systematically, the mix sounds good also. And that's comfortable.
Caution! They are not listening to the speakers, because it does not flatter the pieces. If there's a ball, it does not forgive, we hear (and that's the goal!).

OVERALL OPINION

I use them now for 10 months. Despite the price, this choice would again without hesitation. This is a quality / price / comfort / extra happiness!
In addition, the micro-adjustment on the back to fit the dynamics of the piece demonstrates the professionalism of this model.
The metal box is very good (exit plastic) and there is no room to vibrations or resonances.
General speaking, it is important to go into a listening room to compare. Certainly there are more expensive with a sound that kills, but frankly, this model there is excellent. I recommend.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

- The fact that the frequency band is wide enough
- This is done in France

For what purpose?

- Mainly mixing and composition

What amp / What configuration? ...

- Sound card Apogee Duet 2

SOUNDS

The frequency curve is sufficiently neutral?

Yes, although I'm not in optimal conditions to judge with certainty

The stereo is good?

Yes, provided much of the place and position themselves correctly

The sound is clear and precise across the spectrum?

Yes

OVERALL OPINION

How long you use it?

- 9 months

What is so special that you love the most, least?

- Most: Robust construction
- The least: The price is still too expensive but it's like that when we want something of quality.

Did you tried many other models before buying it?

Yes, I had the opportunity to have the KRK and Genelec models but smaller and therefore, not playing in the same court.

How would you rate the quality / price?

Very good

With experience, you do again this choice? ...

For sure ...

The focal cms65 looks plain but are far from plain monitors.

I bought mine from sweetwater brand new for $1,000 each. If your going to be mixing you need serious monitors. These are the best I've found in the $2k range

Before I purchased these I was looking at dyn audio. All the great things I heard about Focal swayed me into getting these and I'm glad I did. These monitors sound really, really good. I love the shelving options on the back.

FYI you will need to remove the grills from the monitors and insert the phase plugs. I didn't and was disappointed when I first played these monitors. Then I noticed some pics of the monitors online had the grills removed and I read on another review that they should be removed.

After removing the grills and inserting the phase plugs I was blown away. I see myself keeping these monitors for a long time.

The back of the cms65 has plenty EQ shelving options on the back, however they are hard to switch

Focal has a really good rep when it comes to monitors and these don't disappoint

Excellent flat non fatiguing monitors. These monitors really sound great. I'm very happy with this purchase

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

What characteristics have motivated your choice? Tried in a long time friend.
For what purpose? Studio project and training computer music


What configuration? ... connected to an RME UFX Vovox with cables.

SOUNDS

The frequency curve is sufficiently neutral? You must love philosophy Focal.
The stereo is good? very good, yes.
The sound is clear and precise across the spectrum? yes, with the sub box, mediums live longer and release a little more sound, it lives longer.
The dynamics are respected? ... yes, it's not bad at all!

OVERALL OPINION

How long you use it? more than two years now.
What is so special that you love the most, least? Made in France (except for the sub which is made in C. ...)
Did you tried many other models before buying it? Yes.
How would you rate the quality / price? very good!
With experience, you do again this choice? ... Difficult to have experience with the equipment that we would not have been, but the answer is yes

Dress well solid aluminum, so wind forward to the possibility of a wall trs prs, volume knob and stand by, the rubber foot, the quality Focal box Fran ease and manufacturer, product cohrent

compact size, they are easy to place

there are grilles that enlve once they are places and we must put the little plastic optimizer phase of the tweeter

SOUNDS

It's just poustouflant for me, once I had the speakers Behringer 2031A, I have a sound card RME ff800, it's just the transition to three dimensions, I can discern the heights, from bottom to top the incredible panoramic and depth do not even talk, I will put a poster on the wall just derrire and I feel like be in a field or a concert hall

the bass is trs prcises, yet I have a wall 10 cm and one of the speaker is in a corner, I will treat my pice when I rcupr sub but dj is amazing, no vibration is channeled 1m and I are on my desk, everything is for my apple, the spectrum remains Dfine, that ascending or decrease the volume.

how sweet, and yet I'm on the end of the break, a promise

spectrum, dynamic sound, nothing wrong is a cohrence, honey with hazelnuts for the ears

if you test them in the store, remember to put you in the center and the friend who is with you too, really changes in this

dimensional perspective, if one is too high or too low or off-axis, because it prcis

********

my running is low have completed the Toff, they are more round, I feel more dj the need to treat my pice

********

2 months of use APRS APRS and reading the test Audiofanzine I confirm that there are many mdiums the high cost, it said, my mixes are good and I trs Submitted excute the record speed since I do not need the costs on other Systm, I know that ds Submitted it's good on my focals , is happening everywhere. I tried to rectify with the rear rglages as stated in the test, actually, it corrects and gives a great cost, but my mix is not as effective, it becomes much more blurred in these high mdiums and makes me turn up the volume, I have some big surprises by listening to other Systmes, so for me and my pice, I will not touch the rglages to keep effectiveness of this mix

OVERALL OPINION

I have for a week

at least, I see the price, at the show in October they taient ads around 550 euros, the 619 had me to have them, which makes a big diffrence when you think that it takes all of 2 ms.
Finally, I do not regret any fawn, although I intended to pay the price for speakers that lasts me a long time and not to overlook the low or otherwise, even if my home studio is not great

my choice was made to dpart from space I have, on my desk, the desk against the wall, I needed something close proximity (a is said?) j ' were going to buy small Genelec, the store had none and then I rflchis, the quality of Focal speakers in aluminum, I tried it exactly that I wanted ds the 2nd day I packed up the boxes because I knew that I did Ramna it to the dealer, they do not vibrate with hair, still shoots low and prcises Dfine well, now I can not tell you if a trs down low, I do not do electronic music, acoustics, mainly, low come to me, it does not go into the ground, my office or the ceiling as my old speakers.

I do not regret my choice, I think it's perfect, I do not even notice intrt to leave as smooth, srement others will notice a more technical home, more than the front speakers a good ten years or more

oh yeah, I mix my rcout and even my girlfriend who did not connate expressed the fawn, "it seems like everything is on the same line" yeah, before I had no depth (even when I said "ah it's not bad, I expected worse" but the playing is my ego)

I just finished my first mix with, super fast, thanks the precision, my ds Premire costs on other Systmes (car radio, computer speakers, each no hi-fi) has released well as what I heard on cms65 at the balance gnral

No longer stand my KRK RP5 which offered a sound very nice but were not really tools for professional work, I was looking for speakers less flattering, rising higher in the acute and more accurate in the bass.

I was very attracted to the practical aspects of CMS65: many settings and grilles (for output when taken in its natural acoustics) removable (the studio). About the gates, they retire with a small label provided, but the operation is delicate, especially for the tweeter can be damaged very easily, even with great care.

The vent front and back panel with vertical connections allow for placement against the wall, and many of the serious correction settings are then welcome (and very effective). Pity that a precision screwdriver is needed to turn the tiny buttons, it's pro and it finds its meaning in a commercial studio, but the price are intended instead to home-studio sound professionals.

The entrance is on XLR or RCA, with a gain switch (-10dB, 0dB, +4 dB). Button on / off is at the back and difficult to access if the speaker is near a wall. The front has a sleep button (with the LED red / green) and a volume control (completely useless: it sounds much better by leaving it at the bottom).

Some details could be improved, but in this price range, and even three times, I see no competitor that competes in features. 10/10!

SOUNDS

First impression on unpacking their sound: it is very strange, dirty and aggressive, or very unpleasant. The break is very important in these pregnant after a good twenty hours of music loaded bass at a sustained level but not excessive, that changes everything!

The most successful is the media! I have never heard better, and I heard many things, and NS-10 Auratone to Boxer T4 and T5, to the Genelec 1030 and 1031, M-Audio, Edirol, and KRK, the TAD , and proactive, and Mackie, Divatec of Adam and ... From my point of view, these are absolutely perfect Focal 500 to 5000 hertz.

The grave is very successful for speakers this size: firm and precise, it descends down (up 55/60Hz or 50 Hz extreme limit taped to the wall) without masking the lower medium. Obviously, it is back and lack of energy, but we do not expect miracles with 2 x 16cm. At least, the climbs are extremely fast and dragging absolutely nonexistent.

The highs are less impressive. It does not seem to rise very high, it may lack a little brightness, flicker, so they are perfect. But as they are, listening is not tiring and perhaps more balanced (the rule of 400 000?), Certainly not flattering, and does not change with the noise level.

To return to the break, one of my speakers had a fault and was exchanged against a new one by the VAS (very slow, by the way). I was able to compare a new speaker and a lapped 3 months. Listening to them one after the other, the new seemed very small and without energy, noisy and not very defined. In stereo, the image was completely displaced to the oldest. After twenty hours, they have become identical.

Go to the price, especially for their size, they deserve a 10! But in the bass and treble, it is much better for much more, if it has a large listening room treated well ...

OVERALL OPINION

I have for over 4 months now, and they fully satisfy me. I add to them a good sub will come out when a Focal in this range.

I love the sleek design and professional settings, screens and sound ... not too pleasant and always very accurate. It's never a pleasure to listen to music on it, and it makes it a perfect working tool that exposes your ears to the sound as recorded, without erasing flaws (as do many monitoring low-end) or exaggerating them (such as NS10, for example).

With experience, I take some of the best for more expensive ... but I keep them!

I bought these speakers on the simple faith of the reviews for their power suitable to my room, and sympathy for a builder who does not delegate almost nothing to its subcontractors.
These bombs are not as easy to tame as the leave the reviews suggest: The settings on the back of the speakers are actually active, it changes!
I tried everything (methodical, noting every time) and I found the sound that kills.
I would add that all variants (except mistake on the entry level!), the sound is of extreme accuracy, unmatched fidelity and warm, just the trifle that flatters the extreme realism of these devices of the devil.
The advantage (which should be a duty for that product) is a mix on it is a mix of universal, with almost always the same colors found ...
Cheers linearity and quality of components!

SOUNDS

The dynamic is a chouille compressed, but the loyalty is to the rendezvous.
Whether to raise a little lacking is the sound a bit (but really, it's nitpicking) metal enclosures, despite a generous round and a very good accuracy. the stereo is unbelievable, near triangular (equilateral triangle between the speakers and you).

OVERALL OPINION

Before, I was poor, and had poor Alesis MkII, which had the advantage of producing a mix almost listenable on anything else. I worked very long on overstated Yamaha NS10, tapping for Inge sourdingues legends of rock, very linear, fine, but only from 200 Hz, in addition, I have all the precision frequencies, including the serious, and without a subwoofer, and a feeling of loyalty and strength that changes a little ...
It is more expensive, but it is one of the best purchases I've made recently.

-The sound aesthetic of the brand that I could appreciate at a mastering studio pro.
Mix-music!
-Used with Logic 9 / Apogee together

SOUNDS

In a room with acoustics not mastered, it's a pleasant listen, but not hard enough states, which happens to my taste very good sub. The acoustic treatment of my hut is nearing completion it gets interesting. The gap between the rough mixes and productions neat. Much easier to work, the choices are made naturally, it seems to know where it goes.

OVERALL OPINION

-6 Months
-Some older models or fashion.
-The very accurate picture
-Good
"Yes, for the same price